Deploying an extension command

You can easily deploy an extension command (with or without an associated custom dialog) on your computer, or share it so that it can be deployed by other users. To deploy an extension command, you first create an extension bundle that includes the XML specification file and the implementation code. You or your users then install the extension bundle from within IBM® SPSS® Statistics. Install the extension bundle from Extensions > Install Local Extension Bundle.

• The recommended convention is to use the same name for the extension bundle as the name of the extension command. For example, for an extension command that is named MYORG GETURL EXCEL, the value of the Name field in the Extension Properties dialog is also MYORG GETURL EXCEL.
• If you create a custom dialog for your extension command, then be sure that the custom dialog specification file (.cfe or .spd) is included in the extension bundle.
• If you create an HTML help file for your extension command, then include the file in the extension bundle. If your HTML file uses a style sheet, then include the style sheet in the extension bundle.
• If the implementation code consists of multiple code files (for example, multiple Python modules), then include all of the files in the extension bundle.
• For extension commands that are implemented in R, list the names of any R packages from the CRAN package repository that are required by your code. Required R packages are listed on the Optional tab of the Extension Properties dialog. When the extension bundle is installed, SPSS Statistics checks if the required R packages exist on the user's computer and attempts to download (from CRAN) and install any that are missing.
• If you are globalizing output and messages for your extension command, then include the folder that contains the translated resources. To add the folder, specify the path to the folder in the Translation Catalogues Folder field on the Optional tab of the Extension Properties dialog.
• If you or your users plan to run the extension command in distributed mode, then be sure to install the extension bundle on both the client and server computers.